Combination book holder, writing and study board



Jan. 4, 1938.

G. .J. PORTER 2,104,524 COMBINATION BOOK HOLDER, WRITING AND STUDY BOARD Filed July 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wcum Jan/4, 1938. J PORTER 2,104,524

COMBINATION BOOK HOLDER, WRITING AND STUDY BOARD w; QM/QWW anmw Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION BOOK HOLDER, WRITING AND STUDY BOARD 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a combination book holder, Writing and study board.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character which is adapted to be attached to the arm: of a chair to support an easel or board which may have the combined functions of a book holder, writing and study board, and which is further adapted to be placed in a position where the same will not interfere with the use of the chair as such.

Another object of the invention relates to the construction of the device that will permit of the same being attached to any type of chair and which will permit the placement of the easel or board in any desired position for use.

Further objects of the invention relate to the adjustable features of its construction, its structural simplicity, ease of operation and adaptability to securely hold a book supported thereon or when used as a writing board, at any level, distance and angle to suit the particular requirements of a person occupying the chair with which the device is associated.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of the device in its mounted position on the arm of a chair.

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 22, Figure 1, showing an end elevational view of the easel or board.

Figure 3 is a side view of the. chair arm showing the supporting element of the device in side elevation.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the supporting element and arm taken on line 4-4, Figure 1, the arm of the chair being shown in dotted outline.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the supporting element taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view in section taken on line 5-6, Figure 1 showing the manner of supporting the board carrying element on the end of the arm of the device.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View of the end of the arm taken on line 1--l, Figure 6, showing the washer and arm construction.

Referring to the drawings, the device is shown as consisting generally of a mounting bracket it which acts as the supporting element therefor, a main or supporting arm ll, an auxiliary or supported arm [2 and a board l3. The mounting bracket I is attached to the underside of a chair arm [4.

The mlounting bracket H), see Figures 4 and 5. comprises a base l5, provided with a central boss 16 having a bore l1 therein. An annular eye It having a stem l9 terminating in a threaded extension or bolt 20 of reduced diameter is rotatably mounted within the bracket ID, the bolt 20 fitting within the bore I1 and provided with a circular nut 2| that is snugly seated within a circular recess 22 provided in the base IS; the construction being such that the outside face of the nut 2| is flush with the surface of the base l5, and to permit turning movement of the eye 18 relative to the bracket I0. To look the nut 2| to the bolt 2i], the same is provided with a groove 25 adapted to register with a transverse opening 26 in the bolt 28, through which a pin 21 is inserted with the ends thereof lying in the groove 25, as clearly shown in Figure 4. In some cases when it is desired to lock the eye l8 against turning movement relative to the bracket ID, for a purpose to be hereinafter described there is provided a screw 28 threaded into an opening 29 defined in part by the wall of the circular recess 22 and in part by the wall of the nut 2|. This opening 29 is so disposed that the eye l8 will have a transverse position at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bracket ID. A similar part opening 29a is provided on the nut 2|, spaced 90 thereon whereby the same may be brought into registry with the corresponding part opening in the base l0 so as to lock the eye l8 in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the bracket.

Fitted within the eye l8 of the bracket I0 is an eye-bolt 30 that is securely held thereon by a nut 3|, see Figure 3, there being provided if so desired a washer 32 between the nut 3| and the adjacent face of the eye [8. The bracket I0 is provided with longitudinally spaced openings 33 for the reception of screws 34, (shown only in section, Figure 4), to attach the same to the chair arm I. In some cases it may be desirable to provide similar openings 33 on the bracket base in the transverse plane thereof to accommodate two additional screws.

Arranged to be supported by the bracket and eye-bolt 30 carried thereby, is the main'arm H of the device. The arm II is composed of two solid bars or rods 40 and 4| of unequal length, respectively and connected together by a hinge joint 42. The arm section 40 is' provided with a bifurcated end having flattened legs 43 which receive therebetween in frictional engagement a flattened mating extension 44 formed on the end of the other arm section 4|; the whole being held in assembled relation by the rivet or screw 45. To lock the hinge joint 42 there is provided a screw 46 which engages both the legs 43 and the extension 44 to prevent relative movement therebetween. Preferably the screw 46 is of the same size as the screw 28 so as to be interchangeable.

The other end of the arm section 40 is threaded as at 4'! and is of a size to snugly fit within the eye-bolt 30. An inner nut 48 and an outer nut 49, with washers 50 abutting each face of the eye-bolt 35, securely mount in adjusted position the arm section 46 on said eye-bolt (and mounting bracket Hi) to permit rotational movement thereof. The threaded portion 41 is provided with a longitudinal key-way 5| for the entire length thereof and the washers 5|], see Figure 7 are each provided with a radial lug 52 to fit within the key-way. Thus the washers 50 while able to move longitudinally of the threaded portion 41, in the adjustment of the same, cannot turn thereon so that when in frictional engagement with the faces of the eye-bolt 36 by virtue of the clamping action of the nuts 48 and 49 the arm section 40 is firmly held in position. In the same manner the other end of the arm section 4| is formed with a threaded portion 41a provided with a key Way 5|, washers 56, a nut 46a and a knurled nut 49a.

Carried by the longer arm section 4| of the main arm II is an auxiliary arm I2. This arm I2 comprises a lower section 55 and an upper arm section 56 formed of a bar or rod of substantially the same size as that employed in the main arm The arm section 55 is formed at each end with flattened eyes 51 and 58 arranged in planes at right angles to each other, the lower eyes 5? being arranged on the threaded portion 41a in adjusted position thereon and clamped in place between the washers 56 and nuts 48a and 49a. The clamping pressure exerted by the nuts 48a and 49a is sufficient to hold the arm section 55 in any angular adjusted position on the threaded portion 41a of the arm while at the same time permitting angular movement thereof in the direction of the arrows, see 'Figure 2. Of course the clamping pressure could be such as to preclude any rotational or angular movement. As described above, the washer 55 construction is such that the same cannot turn on the arm whereby loosening of the nuts 48a and 49a is prevented. Further clamping pressure of the washers 50 on the flattened eye 51 may be achieved by dishing the washers 56 to provide a certain degree of resiliency therein, or both the washers 56 and eye 51 may be beveled at one side thereof to allow the same to be drawn together, all in the manner known.

The upper auxiliary arm section 56 is provided only at one end (its lower end) with a flattened eye 59 adapted to mate with the eye 58 of the arm section 55, both being hingedly connected by the bolt 60 and knurled nut 6|. A bracket 62 secured by means of the screws 63 to the underside of a board I3 is provided with a longitudinal bore for the reception of the arm section 56. A boss 64 on the bracket 62 carries a set-screw 65 formed with a knurled head 66 for clamping the bracket 62 on the board IS in adjusted position on the arm section 56.

The board I3 is made of any desired material shape and size and is provided on one edge with a shoulder or rest |3a to support a book in the manner readily apparent.

It will be apparent from the above described construction of the device that the same is capable of being used and mounted in any number of positions. The screw 28 on the bracket l0 may look the eye H3 in two positions at right angles to each other and if removed will permit rotational movement of the eye I 6 relative to the fixed mounting of the bracket M on the support. In the same manner the screw 46 shows the hinge 42 of the arm sections 40 and 4| of the main arm locked, its removal however permitting the hinge 42 to function as such. The main arm It may be turned within its supporting eye 36 and the auxiliary arm |2 may be turned on its sup porting arm The board l3 may be turned in any angular position relative to the auxiliary arm section 55. In some cases it may be desirable to omit the eye-bolt 36 and to attach the main arm directly to the eye I6 of the bracket it.

When supporting bracket I6 is attached to arm of chair or elsewhere as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, screw 28 is removed from bracket |il eye 58 with arm H which may be rotated for any adjusted position for use, or to rest below and on the outside of arm of chair. When in rest position board or easel l3 assumes an adjusted vertical position entirely out of the way, thus it will be seen with this mounting hinge or board 42, is not needed and is locked. It is also looked in other mountings Where the use of the joint is not needed. When bracket i6 is mounted on the face of post of an upholstered chair or other similar mountings, the face of base H: assumes the vertical position although bracket It! may be at the same time mounted in a vertical or in a horizontal position, which is made possible for convenience in mounting. Screw 28 is then engaged in either opening 29 or part opening 29a as necessity may demand thus locking eye i 8. Eye bolt 35 is then adjusted and rotates with arm H while joint 42 is now unlocked thus enabling section 4| of the main supporting arm to be swung in any desired adjustable position for use or to be swung around arm of chair to rest.

While the device has been shown mounted on the arm of a plain chair the device may be mounted on the arm of an upholstered chair, a desk or other article of furniture and in fact on any supporting structure as for example a wall, door or window frame, bed, etc. It is to be understood that while one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A supporting bracket for an arm to be attached thereto comprising a base, a boss integral therewith, a bore extending through said boss and base, a circular recess in said base in concentric relation to said bore, an annular eye-element, a stem integral therewith and provided with a threaded extension adapted to rotatably fit within said bore, a circular nut seated in said circular recess having threaded engagement with said threaded extension, a pin extending transversely through said nut and threaded extension to prevent disengagement of the same, screw means in engagement with said base and nut to lock said eye-element against rotation and in one of a plurality of pre-deterrnine'd angular positions relative to said bracket, and an eyebolt adjustably secured to said annular eye-element and to which said arm is attached.

GEORGE J. PORTER. 

